Advice needed PLEASE!!!!!

[steelo]

Hi, me the hubby 3 kids and my mum are of to florida in a fortnight for 3 weeks, on saturday my mum was hospitalised with severe pain under her right rib cage, the docs thought it was gall bladder, they finally x-rayed her on sunday and then scanned her yesterday, its definately not her gall bladder, its her liver, she has cysts on her liver and one of them is very large, Now 4 years ago my mum was hospitalised for 2 days with the same pain and they told her then that she had liver cysts but they would burst on there own. So over the past 4 years every now and again she would have a bit of pain but took pain killers rested up and she would be fine within a couple of days, so anyway the doc comes onto the ward to see her thismorning and says you can go home if you like we cant do anything in this hospital, i will refer all your x-rays to guys in london and see what they think, He also said its up to you if you go on holiday but 1.. you need to find someone to insure you and 2... you need a lot of money in the bank incase your put in hospital over there, so needless to say she is very upset and dont know what to do, some friends have said id risk it and others have said its not just your holiday you need to think of the kids/grandchildren, I was wondering what you would do in this situation? Also if mum was hospitalised out there for say 4 or 5 days and needed constant pain relief and scans how much roughly do you think it will cost,
All opinions welcome please

[Katys Grandad]

Very sorry to hear about your mum - I hope she gets better soon.

I'd have to say that under no circumstances should you travel without adeqaute cover (and that might be very hard to come by). Last year I had to cancel a long anticipated trip to Hawaii. At the time I was very dissapinted but I'm still certain I made the right decision.

[Southsider]

Hi Steelo

Sorry to hear about your Mum. I think your need to contact your Insurance Co first and explain the situation to them as it will be a pre-existing condition and if something did happen to your Mum in Florida and you had not declared it they would just walk away and you will be left with a very big bill.

I hope everything works out ok for you.

[steelo]

Thankyou for your advice, Im wondering if she will be able to claim her holiday costs back as the docs arent saying dont go just that, to make sure she has a large bank account which she doesnt, Ive booked through thomas cook do you think i should ring them or contact the insurance company...??

[steph_goodrum]

The insurance company would much rather pay for a deferred trip than have to pay her hospital costs if they were needed in the US. The doctors are obviously saying they aren't confident it won't recur and it's not worth risking perhaps losing your house or something if you did take a chance. You have to inform the insurance compaony anyway as it will negate any cover if they find out that she was hospitalised so shortly before the trip and the chances ar ethey will say it wont be covered when you contact them. They may surprise you though so they have to be the ones you contact next really.

Disappointing though it is you either have to decide whether the whole trip should be cancelled or just your Mums. I hope you get it sorted and it may be that the doctors will be able to give reassurance to the ins company that she would be fine to travel but it sounds from what you have said they cant guarantee there will be no recurrence and it could be fairly quickly that she gets an appointment for London after the referral which may be at the same time as your trip is planned for. Is there someone else who would be around for your Mum if you went family/friends etc? If not then I suspect that you would not be able to relax on the holiday and it would be difficult to leave your mum and go on your own. Ultimately only you can decide but as you say you need to consider all options and discount the ones that aren't viable and make a choice from whats left, one thing I would say is that it isnt worth going without adequate insurance imo.

From other peoples experience of the hospitals then a 4/5 day stay would be very expensive.

[steelo]

your so right Steph, I dont think mum would want me to cancel the whole trip, she would feel very guilty, But at the same point i will feel guilty going without her...

[mfairhurst]

Do not go without Isurance for your mum ,My husband had to go to the KISSIMMEE hospital he had been doing some gardining and thought he had broken his finger .
To cut a story short he was not taken in hospital just seen in outpatient and the bill was $4000 just to see ,(1)The first entrance to fill forms in (2) to see first nurse (3) to see the doctor (3) to have a exray .$4000 bill
So as you can see it is very expensive ,The insurance paid all but the £50.00 exsess so well worth having insurance .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

[Albert the Frog]

One element to consider is that if your Mum has to go in to a US hospital you won't really want to leave her there whilst you get on with your holiday and then go home -and they won't ok her for flying unless they're sure so there could well be a myriad of knock on effects-Personally i would ring the insurance company who will probably cover the cost of cancellation

[steelo]

Hi guys you are all so right, Ive just spoken to mum and she has decided not to come to florida with us, I feel really guilty but my 3 children have also been waiting for over a year for this holiday and mum has told me im not to cancel the whole trip, Now all we are waiting for is the consultant to come back to the ward so mum can ask him if he will put something in writing for the insurance company, We have never claimed any insurance before so was hoping for some advice, what kind of paperwork will they need??

[E. Cosgrove]

Contact the insurance company and they will send you the forms to make the claim.

It must have been a very hard decision for you but I am sure it is the right one. As a grand mother myself I would hate for my kids/ grandkids to miss a trip because of my ill health and I am sure your mum feels better just knowing that the children are going to have a lovely time.

Best wishes to your mum and I hope she is on the mend soon.